Sally hugged Rachel, who was staring at the letter in disbelief. Maggie told Sally to take a seat. “The tea is fresh, although a bit weak as I had to reuse the tea leaves from this morning. When is this rationing going to end? The war ended six months ago for goodness sake.”
Sally ignored Maggie’s grumblings. Everyone felt the same. They’d all thought the end of the war would bring about an end to rationing but instead things seemed to be worse, not better. It was harder now to find food in the shops than it had been in 1940.
“Rachel, tell us the good news. Is she well? Will she come here?”
Rachel picked up the letter.
“She writes in German, so I have to translate for you. She said she survived, thanks to Trudi, Liesl’s mother. Mama never left Berlin.”
“She stayed there for the whole war?” Sally couldn’t hide her disbelief. “That must have been so dangerous.”
“She says it was but there were many who helped her. A pastor called Erik Perwe helped her. The Swedish Church, where he was in charge, hid a few people in the actual church but had several other hiding places. Mother said she lived with Trudi and some other people for a while. That must have been when she wrote that last letter we got. Then Trudi took her to this Mr. Perwe and he looked after her until he died in 1944.”
“The one she sent in the summer of 1940. It seems like yesterday, yet in other ways, those five years passed very slowly, didn’t they?”
Rachel didn’t answer Sally. She kept reading. “She says she was very frightened with the bombing and everything and was always hungry.”
Rachel’s mouth thinned.
“What?”
“She says the greatest danger was the Jew-catchers.”
Sally thought that was a bit obvious but didn’t like to say so. Rachel’s next words surprised her.
“Not the Nazis or the German civilians Sally, but other Jews.”
“What?” Sally wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly.
“Mama says there were a few Jews who worked with the SS. Those Jews denounced several brave people to the Gestapo in return for their own safety. The Jew-catcher would go to a suspected safe house and tell them they were on the run from the Gestapo. If the person took them in, the Gestapo would watch the house for several days to see who was coming and going. Only then would they swoop in and arrest everyone. Hundreds of good Germans and other nationalities, as well as the Jews they were sheltering, were murdered.”
“Surely they wouldn’t do that?” Sally couldn’t hide her horror.
“Nobody knows what they would do to save themselves or their families, Sally.”
Maggie’s gentle reproof worked. Sally knew she would do anything to save Liesl and Tom. Wasn’t she considering giving up on her marriage to keep them with her? Would she have denounced others, to save their lives? She wanted to say she wouldn’t but… could she honestly say that? Could anyone judge those who had lost all hope?
“Is Trudi with your mother? Are they going to come here?” Sally asked.
Rachel shook her head. “Mama says Trudi disappeared in early 1944. She says Trudi was always looking to help more people. Shortly before the Russians arrived, the Swedes got Mama and others out of Berlin.”
Sally clasped her hands. They’d all heard how the Russian soldiers had treated any women they came across. Didn’t seem to matter if they were Jewish, nor what age they were.
She reached across and put her hand over Rachel’s. “I am so glad your mother survived.”
Rachel didn’t react; she wasn’t crying, her face pale but almost expressionless. Sally exchanged a look with Maggie, seeing the concern in her friend’s face too. Rachel was reading the letter like a textbook.
“She is going to Palestine. She says she’s heard rumors Izsak is with Gavriel. She wants me and Ruth to go to Palestine too.”
Sally glanced at Maggie who was staring at her shoes. Losing the girls would break Maggie’s heart in two.
“Palestine? How will you get there? Will the Red Cross help?” Sally asked.
Rachel stood up and threw the letter on the table. “No, they won’t. I already inquired, as I wanted to go even before I heard Mother was going there. The British Government doesn’t want to send any Jews from here to Palestine. They are afraid of upsetting the Arabs. Palestine is our promised land.”
“When did you inquire?” Maggie shouted. “I thought you liked living here.”
“I do Maggie. I love you but when they took Heinz away, I got scared. Then Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Shackleton-Driver kept saying things and I didn’t feel safe.” Rachel took a deep breath, but it didn’t stop her sobbing. “I’m sorry. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, Maggie.”
“You didn’t do anything to me, Rachel. I should have protected you more. I should have kept those women away from you.”
Maggie was crying too. Sally stood and gathered Rachel to her.
“Rachel, you’re bound to be emotional. Your mother survived the war and you should be over the moon. It’s horrible you won’t be able to see her for another while. I understand you’re frustrated but maybe you could see this as a chance for you.”
“How?” Rachel looked at her suspiciously.
“You said you wanted to be a doctor or a nurse. Now you have found your mother and know she is safe you can concentrate on achieving your dream.”
Rachel stared at her. “You mean, study here?”
“Why not? I’m sure Maggie and the Reverend would look after Ruth if you had to go away to study. You have good experience from working at Botley’s Park. Have you thought about asking the Matron for help in getting started?”
Rachel’s eyes widened, her deep sadness fading. “You really think I could?”
“Of
